Serm. XLIX. to undermine Natural, 34-9 therefore our Saviour begins his firfl Sermon, by promifing Bleffednefi to the pra&íce of theft Duties ; of Purity, and Meeknefr, and Righteouffefs and Peace - ablenefr, and Mercifulnefs, and Patience, and SubmiJon to the will of God un- der Perfecutions and Sufferings for Righteoufnefs fake; and tells us (as I thew'd before) that he came not to releafe Men from the pra&ice of theft Duties, but to oblige them theieto more effeaually 5 and that as thefe were the Law and the Pro- phets, that is, the main Duties and the Foundation of the yewifh Religion, fo were they much more to be foof the Chriflian. This the Scriptures of the New Teflament do every where declare to be the great defign of the Gofpel, and the Chriftian Religion, to infttu& us in thefe Duties, and to engage us effeauaily to the pra&ice of them. In that known and excellent Text, Tit. 2. I r, 12. The grace of God (which is in and by the Do&tine of the Gofpel) bath appeared to all men, teaching as that denying ungodlinefs and worldly lulls, we fhould live foberly, righteoufly, and godly in this prefect world. And herein St. Yav es tells us, the true nature, and the force and vertue of the Chriftian Religion Both confifì, fames r. 27. Pure Religion, and undefiled before God and the'Father is this, to vi- fst the Fatherlefs and the Widows in their affli&ion, and to keep ourfelves unfpotted from the World. And Chap. 3. 17. The wifdom which isfrom above (that is, that Hea- venly and Divine Knowledge revealed to usby the Gofpel) bath theft Properties, and is apt toproduce thefe effets ; it is firfi pure, and then peaceable, gentle, and eafie to be intreated, full ofmercy, and of goodfruits. And the planting of thefe difpofitions in us is that which the Scripture calls the new Creature, and the Image of God, Eph. 4. 20. &c. The Apoftle fpeaking there of the Vices and Lulls wherein the Gentiles lived, tells Chriftians that they were otherwife inftru&ed by the Gofpel; but you have not fo learned Chrifi, iffo be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jefus, that ye put ofconcerning the former converfation the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful Lufts, and be renewed in thefjirit of your mind, and that ye put on the newman, which after God is created in righteoufnefs, and true holinefs, or, (as the words perhaps may better be rendred) in the holinefr oftruth; for it immediately follows, wherefore putting away lying, fpeak every man truth with his Neighbour. And this is that which the Apoftle elfewhere makes to be all in all in the Chri- ftian Religion. In Chrifi Jefus, neither Circumcifon availeth any thing, nor Un- eircumcifon ; buta new Creature, Gal. 6. 15. which the Apoftle in the Chapter be- fore expreffeth thus; in Chrill Jefes neither Circumcifon availeth any thing, nor Un- circumcifon, but Faith which worketh (or is infpired) by Charity. And yet more exprefly, r Cor. 7. 19. Circumcifion is nothing, andVncircumcifíòn is nothing ; but the keeping of the Commandments of God. By the comparing of which Texts, it appears, that the main thing in Chriftianity, is the prance of Moral Duties, and this is the newCreature, and this the proper effet of the Chriftian Faith to produce thefe Virtues in us. And indeed the great Defign of the Chriftian Re- ligion and every thing in it, of the love of God in giving his Son to die for us, of thepardon of our Sins, and juflification in his Blood, of all the Promifes and Threatnings of the Gofpel, and of the affiftance therein promifed, is to engage, and encourage and enable to the pra&ice of Moral Duties. And thus I have done with the Firth thing I propofed to fpeak to, namely, that Natural Religion is the Foundation of leftituted and Revealed Religion ; and all Revealed Religion does fuppofe it, and builds upon it. I proceed to the Second, Namely, That no Revealed and Inftituted Religion was ever defigned to take away the obligation of Natural Duties, but was intended to confirm and eftablifh them. And this allo will be evident, if we confider there three Things. r. That all Revealed Religion calls Men to the .pra&ice of Natural Duties. Thus the lewifh Religion did. The fit(t Laws whichGod gave them, and which he diftinguifh't from the reft, by writing them in Tables of Stone with his own Finger, were the Precepts of the Moral Law. And the great bufinefs of the Pro- phets whom God railed up among them from time to time, was to reprove not fo much their defe&s in their Sacrifices, and in the Dutiesof Inftituted Worfhip, as the breach of the natural Law by their Vices and Immoralities; and to threaten them
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